2010 Top Advisor Rankings: Virginia

Ranked #1: 3 Ric ♦ Ric Edelman, Edelman Financial Services. Ric Edelman needs no introduction in the world of financial advice.His seven books on financial planning have reached huge audiences, and his radio show is syndicated around the country.As that suggests, Edelman has positioned himself as a classic man of the people."I have found many in our field are only interested in helping rich people; I am as interested in helping people become rich as helping people stay rich." His 46 advisors work with 13,000 clients nationally, ages 18 to 98, with accounts ranging from $15 million to big negative numbers - like hundreds of thousands of dollars of credit-card debt. Assisted by proprietary software, his advisors review portfolios on a daily basis."Our clients own 10,000 stocks from 40 countries," Edelman says.That gives him a bird's-eye view of the market. He's upbeat about 2010 - but that's not his biggest concern."I care what happens over the next 10 years," he says. - JEREMY QUITTNER